Alcatel-Lucent extends mobile backhaul capabilities, allowing operators to accelerate small cell deployment to offer customers widespread LTE access

Full outdoor microwave networking unit and new transceivers accelerate small cell installation while reducing cost and power

PARIS, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is extending its wireless mobile backhaul capabilities to allow operators to more quickly and easily deploy high-capacity ultra-broadband coverage via LTE heterogeneous networks (hetnets) – a mix of macro and small cell base stations. A new full outdoor microwave packet radio (MPR) networking unit helps to save power and cost as operators deliver LTE access to customers everywhere. Alcatel-Lucent is also enhancing its small cell backhaul radio portfolio to more efficiently deliver wireless backhaul across a range of deployment scenarios.

The growing demand for access to data anywhere is driving the need for operators to deploy high-capacity LTE hetnet networks – macro radio coverage augmented by small cells in coverage black spots. Because of the placement of these smaller radio cells – on lampposts, doorways, and other areas – one of the biggest challenges is to provide backhaul connectivity to the wider network.

To solve this Alcatel-Lucent is extending its already comprehensive mobile backhaul portfolio with a mix of new microwave networking devices. The introduction of the Microwave Services Switch – Outdoor (MSS-O) to the 9500 Microwave Packet Radio (9500 MPR) family simplifies small cell deployment, giving mobile operators more options for placement as they boost backhaul link capacity. The company is also collaborating with other wireless backhaul product providers, to offer support for a range of small cell backhaul frequency options and address an even greater variety of small cell deployment scenario needs.

Emmy Johnson, Principal Analyst at Sky Light Research, said: “Alcatel-Lucent is delivering additional flexibility to an already impressive portfolio of mobile backhaul solutions by introducing a full outdoor aggregation unit with carrier class networking features that meets the backhaul needs of both macro and small cell sites. This, along with the joint offerings from their industry partnerships, will help streamline the backhaul and reduce costs for the growing number of operators wanting to provide ubiquitous mobile broadband coverage to their customers.”

Francois Allain, General Manager of Alcatel-Lucent’s Wireless Transmission business said: “As announced in the Shift Plan last year, we are continuing to innovate as a company as well as focusing on industry collaboration to help our customers. We want to further our leadership in this space, and by extending our packet microwave portfolio and industry leading mobile backhaul solution we can meet the needs of many more customers.”

Updates to Alcatel-Lucent’s 9500 MPR Portfolio

Alcatel-Lucent’s 9500 MPR portfolio delivers a comprehensive suite of microwave packet radio backhaul solutions. The latest additions to the portfolio include:

• The 9500 MPR Microwave Services Switch-Outdoor (MSS-O): a compact, easy to deploy, full outdoor microwave networking device, for boosting link capacity and reliability for small cell backhaul networks.
• The 9500 MPR Microwave Packet Transceiver-Sub6 (MPT-Sub6):  a next-generation sub-6Ghz wireless backhaul solution for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) small cell deployments in built-up, urban locations.
• The 9500 MPR Microwave Packet Transceiver-Gigabit Services (MPT-GS): providing line-of-sight wireless backhaul solutions at 60GHz and 80GHz frequencies.

These solutions augment Alcatel-Lucent’s already comprehensive mobile backhaul portfolio. In addition Alcatel-Lucent is further simplifying the site selection and backhaul process for small cell deployment with the Small Cells Site Certification Program, launched in 2013. Under this program it is working with local companies such as operators, integrators and other expertise around the world to speed the deployment process for operators.

Additional Resources

Blog – Microwave improves small cell backhaul
http://www2.alcatel-lucent.com/techzine/microwave-improves-small-cell-backhaul-lte/

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)
We are at the forefront of global communications, providing products and innovations in IP and cloud networking, as well as ultra-broadband fixed and wireless access to service providers and their customers, and to enterprises and institutions throughout the world. Underpinning us in driving the industrial transformation from voice telephony to high-speed digital delivery of data, video and information is Bell Labs, an integral part of the Group and one of the world’s foremost technology research institutes, responsible for countless breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Our innovations have resulted in our Group being recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Top 100 Global Innovator, as well as being named by MIT Technology Review as amongst 2012’s Top 50 “World’s Most Innovative Companies”. We have also been recognized for innovation in sustainability, being named Industry Group Leader in the Technology Hardware & Equipment sector in the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices review, for making global communications more sustainable, affordable and accessible, all in pursuit of the Group’s mission to realize the potential of a connected world.

With revenues of Euro 14.4 billion in 2013, Alcatel-Lucent is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges (Euronext and NYSE: ALU). The company is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.

For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Company on Twitter:http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

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